I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
When a young boy with amnesia is found sitting in The National Gallery, it sets off an adventure full of art and mystery.

What I Liked:
I loved all the art and art history in this! It was really well integrated and added a lot to the book.

The main characters of Art and Camilla were a lot of fun too, and made a great pair. I loved that the kid characters were well-rounded, smart, and loyal.

Anything I Didn't Like?
The book occasionally felt a little slow at times. I did feel it could be tightened up a bit.

So...?
This was a fun, quick read that I think adults and middle graders alike could and would enjoy. The art history aspect was a wonderful bonus.

Monday, September 11, 2017

I am a big fan of Megan Abbot's books. She creates these amazing mysteries, but what's perhaps even more impressive is the story she tells around the mystery.

In The Fever, a group of girls begin to exhibit mysterious symptoms, that seem to have no rhyme or reason to them. While various theories are frantically bandied around, and public health services are called in, a small town becomes terrified, searching for anyone and anything to blame for what is happening to their children.

Abbot really gets at the psychological underpinnings of what makes us human. She explores how much the unknown frightens us, and how the desire to turn the unknown to known, and to protect our families, drives us to do things we never would do otherwise. Abbot also unpicks the heart of female friendships, their complexities and depths, and the way the world views women.

When you read an Abbot book, you are getting not only a great mystery full of surprises, but psychological suspense that delves deep into the heart of humanity.

The Book:
When Juno reluctantly attends her college reunion, only there to support her best friend Christine as she gives an art history lecture, she doesn't expect to have Christine's speech spiral out in dangerous repercussions that will reverberate throughout her past and present, and challenge everything she thinks she knows.

What I Liked:
I love Goodman's writing style. It feels so immediate and puts you right in her characters' heads.

Goodman does an excellent job of exploring so many different types of relationships, from female friendships, to mother and daughter, to sisters, to lovers.

And of course the mystery-there are so many layers to it, and I was constantly being surprised by new revelations.

Anything I Didn't Like?
There was so much going on, that occasionally it got a little confusing. I really appreciated how many storylines Goodman was able to weave together, but I did sometimes struggle to keep everyone and everything straight.

So...?
This is a beautiful, introspective, and twisty mystery full of powerful characters and lots of surprises. I definitely recommend this book.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as:

Mystery.

Suspense.

Thriller.

Dark Fantasy.

Gothic.

Horror.

Supernatural.

The emphasis is never on the word challenge, instead it is about coming together as a community and embracing the autumnal mood, whether the weather is cooperative where you live or not.

Peril the First:
1) Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (reread)
2) The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman
3) The Fever by Megan Abbott
4) Crazy House by James Patterson
5) Cross the Line by James Patterson
6) Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs
7) The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagencrantz

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Title: ThornhillAuthor: Pam SmyPublication Date: August 29, 2017Genre: Middle Grade/Graphic Novel/Gothic/Horror/Suspense/ParanormalRecommended If You Like: quick reads with eerie pictures, books told in diary format, parallel stories that intersect, one side of the story told entirely in pictures

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
The words tell the story of Mary, an orphan who lived in Thornhill as a ward of the state before it was shut down. The pictures tell the story of Ella, who finds herself alone in the house across from Thornhill after her mother passes away and her father loses himself in work.

What I Liked:
The pictures were so striking, and really captured the eeriness of the story. The use of first person narration through Mary's diary made everything feel very immediate, just like it felt to both Mary and Ella. This book definitely grabbed me, and flew by.

Anything I Didn't Like?
I found not having any words with Ella's side of the story did make things a little confusing for me. I occasionally had trouble following what was going on.

So...?
This would be a great read with fall coming up, especially as Halloween draws near. It could scare younger readers, but it definitely has a captivating spooky tale to tell that can pull in adults as well.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

This week's topic was hidden gems. I interpreted this as books that don't have as much love as I wish they did, and went with books in my favorite genres to read.

These are the first two books that always come to mind when I think of hidden gems. I love these books so much-they are brilliant thrillers full of unique literary mystery and nail-biting psychological suspense. They are so clever, and so different from other thrillers, and I've re read them so many times.

With James having a second true crime book coming out, this seems the perfect time to remind people just how good his first true crime book is. It's an incredibly unique and comprehensive look at so many famous and lesser-known crimes.

I would never have heard of this book if it hadn't been a giveaway at ALA one year, and I'm so glad it was available, because it's so good. It's another really unique read, the true story of the author's friendship in college with someone who later becomes a murderer.

This is one of my favorite true crime series. There are multiple editions, and it collects what the editing panel considers the best articles and essays about crime from the given year. You're able to read such a great variety, and hit the highlights of that year in true crime writing.

This series is a joy for mystery lovers. Each book is centered around a different famous mystery author, and you get lots of background information on the author and their works while enjoying a fun mystery and strong lead character.

This is a really fun middle-grade mystery with a great female lead detective, and fun illustrations.

A quirky famous detective and his determined ward investigate mysterious crimes that no one else can solve.

To me, this is one of the most fascinating cases of mysterious unsolved death ever recorded, and this book posits a really interesting and well-researched theory.

This book posits a fascinating and captivating theory about one of the most famous psychological cases ever recorded, and suggests that those in charge may have perpetrated a truly tragic crime against a fellow human being.

Monday, August 28, 2017

It ostentatiously tells the story of a group of girls who are mailed invitations to attend a summer camp, and who accept these invitations, ready to head off to what they assume will be a week full of smores, songs and sleeping under the stars.

But this story goes places they, and you,will never see coming.

The mysterious narrator had me guessing from the start, as did the unique structure of the book, set up as if it was being run as a play (though the chapters are in prose, not script). There's the group facing off against their rich archenemy camp across the lake, the group running from a murderously mad former camper, the group on a heroic quest, the group who seem to have found their soulmates, and the group just trying to survive as their cabin turns against them.

McCoy plays with popular narrative tropes from both movies and books, and gives readers a fabulous Cabin in the Woods-esque feel, where we know from the start that our expectations and understandings of human nature are being toyed with by a talented writer who has so much more going on than meets the eye.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Title: The Other GirlAuthor: Erica SpindlerPublication Date: August 22, 2017Genre: Mystery/ThrillerRecommended If You Like: strong female sleuths, secrets from the past, twists and turns

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Miranda Rader, a police officer in a small town, is called to a horrific crime scene. But when she gets there, she discovers a newspaper clipping from fifteen years ago, all about the crime in her past she's tried her hardest to forget. As Miranda attempts to discover how her past and the murder victim's present are connected, she will be forced to confront the truth about that terrible night so many years ago.

What I Liked:
This book was extremely suspenseful. I love a story concerning secrets from the past coming into the present, and Spindler integrated the past and present really well. The flashbacks added to the suspense, and were a really important part of the plot.

I really liked the character of Miranda-she was strong, smart, and determined.

I was also really surprised by all the plot twists. I never had the story figured out, which is always a lot of fun, especially with all the mysteries I read.

Anything I Didn't Like?
While I really liked the romance, I felt the writing of it was a little cliched.

So...?
This is a quick, gripping read that will keep you in suspense and have you turning pages.

Friday, August 25, 2017

The testimony to how much I enjoyed this book was that, even as a teacher with my school year starting up again, and my three year old students now back, I could not put this book down. I was exhausted, and my head was full of lesson plans, but this book had me hooked.

When a group of five students ends up in detention, only four of them walk out of it alive. As the media and their fellow students spread gossip and rumors, the four suspects must figure out who to trust, and who is lying.

McManus keeps the twists and turns coming, and the characters are really compelling. I found myself constantly surprised by this book, and having to know what happened next. And I definitely didn't see the ending coming.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Carys Jones loves nothing
more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination.
Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and
her adored canine companion Rollo.

Follow Carys

Twitter: @tiny_dancer85

Facebook: @CarysJonesWriter

Instagram: tiny_dancer_8

Website: www.carys-jones.com

Book Description

Best friends tell each other the truth – don't
they?

When North Stone's best friend Kelly Orton is found hanging lifeless in
a tree, North knows for certain it wasn't suicide. Kelly had everything to live
for – a loving boyfriend, a happy life, and most importantly of all, Kelly
would never leave North all by herself.

The girls have been friends since childhood, devoted to each other, soul
sisters, or at least that's what North has always believed. But did Kelly feel
the same way, or was she keeping secrets from her 'best friend' – deadly
secrets...

When the police
refuse to take North's suspicions seriously, she sets out to investigate for herself.
But her search soon takes her to a glamorous world with a seedy underbelly, and
before long North is out of her depth and getting ever closer to danger.
Determined to find the truth, she soon wishes that dead girls could lie,
because the truth is too painful to believe...

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Title: See What I Have DoneAuthor: Sarah SchmidtPublication Date: August 1, 2017Genre: Historical Fiction/SuspenseRecommended If You Like: fictional takes on true crime, family drama, psychological insights into history

The Book:
Everyone thinks they know what really happened that fateful day in Fall River. Everyone has an opinion on Lizzie Borden's guilt or innocence.

Schmidt explores what could have happened from four points of view: Lizzie herself, Emma, her sister, Bridget, the family's maid, and Benjamin, a stranger brought into the outskirts of their world.

What I Liked:
There is so much to like about this book. Schmidt has a beautiful lyrical writing style that makes everything that's happening feel both real and surreal.

This book is also absolutely fascinating. Schmidt has clearly done her research, and can back her theories up. Even though I know a lot of facts about this case, Schmidt had me turning page after page, having to find out what happens, unable to put it down.

Anything I Didn't Like?
I did feel the addition of Benjamin was somewhat unnecessary. The people involved in this true story are already fascinating enough without needing to add in a fictional mysterious stranger.

So...?
I've always read and watched about unsolved mysteries, and the Borden case is one of those I've read about a lot. So I was extremely excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
A spellbook appears. A town begins to lose things big and small. Diary pages begin to appear in bunches of flowers and on the side of the road. And through it all, various girls lose themselves and try to find themselves again, through friendships, romance, and ties to the past and future, all with the help of some magic.

What I Liked:
This book is so beautifully written. It's just got this gorgeously surreal tinge through it all, but Fowley-Doyle also manages to make it feel so real and immediate. I cared deeply about the characters and what was going to happen to them.

There are also some unexpected and amazing twists and turns, especially towards the end of the book.

Anything I Didn't Like?
For me personally, there really wasn't anything not to like about this book. The ending felt a little pat, but I actually liked that, which isn't typically the case for me. I can see how it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it, even though this is definitely not the typical genre I gravitate towards.

So...?
Definitely try this book. Not everyone seems to have liked it, but I found it very beautiful, and a quick read.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

This week's topic is Ten Book Recommendations For ________. Lately, I've seen a lot of people in Facebook book groups looking to start reading Agatha Christie, and wondering which books of hers people would recommend the most. So here are ten of my favorite books by my all-time favorite author, in hopes Ms. Christie will gain even more readers!

This book was definitely controversial when it came out, with Christie even being accused of having cheated her readers, but I think it's absolutely brilliant. Christie invented a trope (I won't say any more so as not to spoil anything) that is extremely popular today.

Christie is the master of taking what you think you know, and turning it on its head. This one is full of twists and turns, and lots of drama, as Poirot attempts to protect a young woman from multiple attempts on her life.

This is my absolute favorite Miss Marple. It's a collection of short stories, all linked, where a group gathers and attempts to solve crimes shared by other members.

With a killer who strikes in alphabetical order, readers are right there with Poirot as he attempts to narrow down the list of victims among all of England's population, before it's too late and the killer strikes again.

This has already had an excellent movie adaptation, and there is an adaptation coming to the big screen in November. Definitely read the book before seeing the movie. Christie combines a snowbound train, a murder victim, and railroad cars full of suspects, into eerie suspense.

This is not only Christie's first published work, but the book where Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are introduced.

I love books about secrets from the past, and Christie delivers that full force here. A group is reunited one year after a mysterious death at the very table they are sharing again.\

This is one of Christie's most famous books (if not her most famous) for a reason-it is pure genius. The story is terrifying and suspenseful, as ten strangers find themselves gathered on an isolated island by a murderer. There have also been two excellent movie adaptations, and it is the inspiration behind a lot of modern books, such as Ten, Ten Dead Comedians, and The Decagon House Murders.

In this tale, Christie features a character who collects murderers--specifically those who have gotten away with their crimes.

Here, a murder is, as the title states, actually announced before it occurs. A group gathers to see if the person who posted the announcement will actually go through with it, and then the lights go off...This was actually the very first Christie book I read, and I was hooked!

Have you read any Agatha Christie before? Which book did you start with?

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Title: The OutliersAuthor: Kimberly McCreightPublication Date: May 3, 2016Genre: Young Adult/Suspense/ThrillerRecommended If You Like: lots of suspense, surprises, realistic depictions of anxiety, twists and turns

The Book:

Already struggling with deep anxiety, Wylie is unable to leave her house after her mother's death. She hasn't spoken to her best friend, Cassie, since their last big fight. But when she receives a text from Cassie, begging for help, Wylie knows she has to go and save her. Along with Cassie's boyfriend, Jasper, Wylie follows the clues Cassie keeps texting to her. But soon Wylie begins to realize there might be much more going on than she could ever have predicted.

What I Liked:
This is a book that never let up on the suspense and thrills once it got going. I got completely sucked in and could not put the book down. I really liked how McCreight managed to take her usual fantastic psychological suspense and mystery style, and mix it into a young adult book that ended up going off on an entirely different track (I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything).

I also thought McCreight did an excellent job of realistically portraying anxiety. As someone with an anxiety disorder myself, it's so important to me to read a book that not only has a main character with anxiety, but one who is relatable and strong.

Anything I Didn't Like?
The book did start out pretty slow for me. This didn't last long, but it did take a bit for me to get into it.

So...?
I know this book really split McCreight fans-a lot didn't like it, and I can see where they are coming from, because it is so different from her previous works. But I really liked it, and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Cass and her sister Emma have been missing for three years. When Cass returns home, without Emma, she tells a tale of a kidnapping, hostages, and a mysterious island. Dr. Winters, a forensic psychiatrist, was drawn into this case when the sisters originally disappeared--and now that one sister is back, and talking, Dr. Winters finds there may be even more going on within this family then she originally thought.

What I Liked:
This is a book full of so many twists and turns, which I absolutely love. One of the biggest revelations near the end caught me completely by surprise. I really liked that Walker kept me guessing over who to trust and who to believe.

Walker has a really excellent writing style as well, that really draws you in. This is a story that had me flipping pages, having to find out what happened.

I also really liked the use of psychology in this. Walker has done her research, and uses Dr. Winters almost as a surrogate to explore the ins and outs of this mysterious family.

Anything I Didn't Like?
The book occasionally moved a little slow, especially after the initial impact of the beginning. I also felt that the very final revelation, while making sense with the character's provided explanation, didn't seem necessary to me, and felt a bit out of place.

So...
This was a good read that absolutely had me hooked. I would definitely recommend this for fans of the genre.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Title: Shadow of the LionsAuthor: Christopher SwannPublication Date: August 1, 2017Genre: Psychological Suspense/MysteryRecommended If You Like: books set in boarding schools, male friendships, mysteries from the past

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Matthias' best friend and roommate, Fritz, disappeared during their senior year at boarding school, and Matthias has always blamed himself.

Now, after one highly successful novel and complete writer's block since, Matthias finds himself back teaching at his former school. The memories that surround him make him determined to solve the mystery of what truly happened to Fritz.

What I Liked:
Swann has a really nice writing style. He has a lot to say, and says it really beautifully. I felt emotionally drawn into the book and wanting to know more. There's a real sense of suspense to this read, with a lot of effective flashbacks.

Plus, I always love a book set in a school.

Anything I Didn't Like?
This book kind of fell apart for me about halfway through. Swann had too much he was trying to do, and it all started to feel forced. The ending really felt like too much, and didn't end up feeling real or even making a lot of sense.

So...?
I really wanted to love this book, especially with its comparison to The Secret History, one of my all-time favorite books. And this was definitely a suspenseful read-I found myself having to keep turning pages until I got to the end. But Swann just tried to cram way too much in for my tastes, and the ending left me confused and dissatisfied.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

The Book:
When high school student Lucinda is murdered, it brings out repressed feelings in her own town-especially for Cameron, Jade, and Russ, three characters caught up in painful memories and lost loves of their own.

What I Liked:
This is a beautifully written book. Kukafka has a great writing style that makes you think and makes you feel. It was like I was right there along with the characters, feeling what they were feeling, trying to figure out life and love as they did.

Anything I Didn't Like?
The resolution of the mystery of who killed Lucinda felt a bit rushed. The build up was so suspenseful and mysterious, and the revelation was definitely a big surprise, but I wanted more from it.

So...?
I definitely liked this book. It's not the best in this genre I've ever read, but Kukafka has a writing style I really enjoy.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

There are times when you need to write a review immediately upon finishing a book, a gushing review that pretty much just states that said book is amazing and everyone needs to read it. This is one of those times, and Magpie Murders is one of those books.

There is everything to love about this book. It's so cleverly meta, containing a book within a book (and the book within a book even has its own reviews, author page, and page numbers), and thus a mystery within a mystery. Each mystery is brilliant and brilliantly written, with shocking, surprising reveals. The mystery within a mystery is an homage to Agatha Christie and that golden age of mysteries, and there are great shout outs and name drops to other wonderful mystery authors and books.

This is a book that reminds me why I love mysteries ("whodunnits" as one of the narrators refers to them as)--the mad rush to turn page after page because I have to find out what is happening next, the obsessive tallying of clues and possible suspects, getting lost in small English villages with brilliant detectives, a cast of characters both unique and so familiar, and that gasp out loud that comes when I reach the solution to the mystery and realize I've been completely fooled (and I love the book even more for fooling me).

I tend to get anxious about rating things-just how many stars to give a book can be something I go back and forth on, and in the end, I'm still not sure the star rating really accurately reflects how I feel about a book, and where I would rank it on my list of reads. But for this book, five stars is completely accurate and deserved. Go read this book, right now. I can't recommend it enough.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Title: Are You SleepingAuthor: Kathleen BarberPublication Date: August 1, 2017Genre: Psychological Suspense/MysteryRecommended If You Like: Serial and other true crime podcasts, psychological suspense, family drama, secrets from the past, social media in books

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

The Book:
When she was a child, Josie's father was murdered, and her twin sister, Lanie, witnessed it. Their lives were completely torn apart, causing Josie to pull away and even change her name. But now a new podcast is revisiting the case, and suggesting that Lanie lied, putting the wrong person in jail.

What I Liked:
I could not put this book down! It was so gripping and so suspenseful. Barber did a fantastic job of planting these little clues so the reader felt like Josie and the listeners of the podcasts, trying to put the true story together.

The use of a podcast-theme throughout was also genius. I loved Serial, and that immediately drew me to this book. I loved the use of social media throughout the book's pages, from podcast transcripts to reddit threads to twitter. I also really liked that through Josie and her family, Barber also explored the other side of these podcasts-how they affect the victims and their families, knowing everyone is talking and speculating about the crime that tore them apart.

Anything I Didn't Like?
There really wasn't anything not to like about this book. It completely drew me in, and kept surprising me.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Title: The GoddessesAuthor: Swan HuntleyPublication Date: July 25, 2017Genre: Psychological SuspenseRecommended If You Like: Swan Huntley's previous book, explorations of friendships and relationships, Hawaii as its own character

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Nancy, her husband, and their two boys move to Hawaii in an attempt to save their family from falling apart. But when Nancy meets Ana, her other relationships take a backseat to Ana's magnetic personality--and Nancy not only knows, but accepts, that whatever Ana wants, she will get.

What I Liked:
This is definitely a suspenseful book. Readers know something is lurking on the horizon, and you can feel it on every page.

I really enjoy Huntley's writing style. It has a beautiful flow to it, and she can really make you see what her characters are seeing and feel what they are feeling.

Hawaii was really its own character in this book, which was great. Huntley really makes Hawaii come alive in a way that even readers who have never been there can appreciate.

Anything I Didn't Like?
This book does move really slowly. There is a lot of suspense to it, but it takes quite a while to get to what the suspense is building up to.

I also really struggled to like the character of Ana. I think this is what Huntley was going for, but I disliked Ana so much that I had trouble getting into the book and staying involved.

I also saw the big revelation at the end coming before I had even finished a third of the book. It felt really obvious to me.

So...?
I didn't love this book like I wanted to. I just had such a struggle with the characters, and being able to predict the biggest revelation from so early on really took away from the reading experience.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Title: When I Am Through With YouAuthor: Stephanie KuehnPublication Date: August 1, 2017Genre: Psychological SuspenseRecommended If You Like: suspense built of situation, unreliable narrators

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Ben just wanted to find some meaning for his life, some hope for a future he's not looking forward to. But leading what should have been a simple camping trip soon turns into tragedy. It's a story Ben will tell--but he's going to take his time.

What I Liked:
This is a great concept for a book. From the start, there is so much suspense. You know Ben is only doling out little details at a time, and you don't know how much to trust him and how much to read between the lines. This makes you have to keep turning pages, all with a building sense of dread.

Anything I Didn't Like?
The concept didn't play through the way I was hoping for. The first third of the book felt like it was set up as a classic unreliable narrator, eerie, super psychologically suspenseful read. But then events veered onto a path that just didn't work for me.

So...?
While this book definitely kept me turning pages-Kuehn has a talent for creating suspense-this book just didn't do it for me.

When they were children, Bel and Jade spent one day together, and by the time that day was through, the world would see them as murderers.

Now adults, living new lives under new names, the two women are brought together by the mysterious strangling deaths occurring in and around an amusement park--and they are forced to wonder just how much of their own pasts will be brought out into the present.

What I Liked:
This is a book that just flies by-I read three quarters of it in a day. It is extremely suspenseful, especially through the use of flashbacks. Marwood doesn't reveal to the readers what truly happened that fateful day until the end of the book, and the build up creates a real sense of absolute dread.

Marwood also does a thorough and fascinating job of exploring the dark side of human nature--in particular, just how much a person can (or cannot) change--and how much society and the people around them will allow them to change.

Anything I Didn't Like?
I did feel like there were one or two too many subplots and characters. The book could have been tightened up a bit.

So...?
This was a quick, suspenseful read with very little light and some real surprises (including one surrounding a side character that really stuck with me). While this is not the best of this genre I've read, Marwood will suck you into the story and you will not be able to put this book down.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Alice and Jake are newlyweds who get sent a seemingly well-meaning, if odd, gift-an invitation to join The Pact. The Pact is a group of married couples dedicated to ensuring that all their marriages survive and thrive.

Alice and Jake are in love, and want their marriage to succeed, so they accept the invitation. But they soon realize that what they signed up for is far darker and farther reaching then they had ever imagined.

What I Liked:
This is one of those books that keeps you with your heart in your throat. There is so much suspense, and the book manages to ride the fine line between horror and thriller, keeping you in a constant state of heightened fear for the characters.

There are so many amazing twists and turns in this book as well. One of the big reveals at the end took me completely by surprise.

Richmond has also created a very unique book, which is always exciting when an author is writing in a very popular genre. I loved that I never knew where this book was going, which just upped the suspense even more.

Anything I Didn't Like?
The very end was absolutely fine, but just didn't pack the punch the rest of the book did.

So...?
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book, as the subject matter could have verged into cliched or cheesy, but Richmond made the story so unique and suspenseful, and even scary. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
When Isa gets a text from Kate, simply saying I need you, it takes her right back to her painful past. Isa and Kate, along with Fatima and Thea, were a clique of four at a boarding school, playing a game that seemed to be all for fun. But the Lying Game had consequences, consequences that are still reverberating in the present, threatening to blow apart their lives.

What I Liked:
This was such a suspenseful book! I couldn't put it down once I picked it up.

Ware is the master of the slow build. You know something is coming, as you watch the characters try to pretend everything will be fine--but there is always something (or someone) lurking around the corner, another shoe just waiting to drop. She plays that skill up once again in this book. You can't help but keep turning pages.

The reveals in this book almost entirely caught me completely by surprise. A few times I had inklings of what could be coming, but I was never able to figure out the full picture.

Ware also does a great job of examining what friendships are like between teenage girls. She perfectly captures the intensity of those bonds that can make you do anything for each other, that can linger even into adult lives.

Anything I Didn't Like?
It's really hard to find anything not to like about Ware's books. I don't think either this book or the previous one are as strong as her first book, but that doesn't mean I don't still really enjoy them.

So...?
I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone who loves a great book full of suspense and lots of twists and turns.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

What I noticed about Tinseltown right from the start is that it reads like a novel. It felt like I had picked up a whodunit, and was completely sucked in. Mann has this great writing style that is so easy and fun to read.

This is also an absolutely fascinating story, one that has remained unsolved for decades. Mann tells the true tale of William Desmond Taylor, a director and actor in the Roaring Twenties, whose murder remains a mystery to this day. Books have been written, webzines have been crafted, and conspiracy theories have been spun, but Mann has what he believes to finally be the true solution.

And Mann backs his solution up with lots and lots of impeccable research. He paints a living, breathing picture of Hollywood in the 1920s, from the movies, to the people who strove to not only create them, but to create their own destinies as famous and beloved stars. Mann focuses on three of these female stars and their personal and professional struggles, but also weaves in so many other important Hollywood figures of that time, and makes them all come alive for readers.

This is a wide-reaching book of non-fiction. Mann manages to not only discuss and attempt to solve a murder, but writes of all the scandals, backstage dealings, and politics that surrounded and enfolded Hollywood at that time.

This is a book I would definitely recommend. It's one that will be joining my other true crime favorites on my bookshelves.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Title: If I Was Your GirlAuthor: Meredith RussoPublication Date: May 3, 2016Genre: Young Adult/LGBTQRecommended If You Like: timely and relevant reads, books that hit you in the heart, protagonists to root for, strong female protagonists

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.Note: Nothing in this review is a spoiler. Anything I discuss in this review is either general, or is stated in the book summary on the inside cover, Amazon, etc.The Book:
Amanda moved in hopes of finding that typical teenage life. But when she makes friends, and begins to fall in love, she fears the secret she's carrying might tear all that apart-that she used to be Andrew.

What I Liked:
This is a book that feels important.

With everything going on in the world today, let alone in the United States, I think this is a book people need to read.

Amanda is a strong, smart, and brave girl, who I feel everyone can relate to, regardless of their own personal circumstances. The supporting characters surrounding her feel real, like people you might have gone to high school with. The book feels immediate, and the story will suck you in.

Anything I Didn't Like?
I completely understand why Russo ended the book where and when she did, but I definitely was left wanting more. I would love to know about the next chapter of Amanda's life.

So...?
Russo has created a world and characters that feel so very relevant and important, wrapped up in a gripping story written beautifully. I definitely recommend this book.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Title: Bring Her HomeAuthor: David BellPublication Date: July 11, 2017Genre: Psychological Suspense/MysteryRecommended If You Like: twists and turns, family drama, explorations of how well we can ever truly know someone

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.The Book:
Bill lost his wife less than two years ago, and now he fears he has lost his daughter, Summer, too. But when the police tell him Summer has been found after being missing for days, it seems too good to be true. As Bill sits by Summer's hospital bed, he has to wonder if he could be this fortunate to truly get his daughter back--and how well he really knows his own flesh and blood. What happened to Summer and her friend? And who exactly made them disappear?

What I Liked:
This is a book full of twists and turns, which I always love! Just when you think you have everything figured out, Bell throws another curve ball at you. The mystery is definitely a suspenseful one that kept me guessing.

Anything I Didn't Like?
I found it hard to like the character of Bill. I suspect at least a part of this was the author's purpose, but I think I was supposed to end up liking him more than I did. I of course was rooting for him to be safely reunited with his daughter, but he had a lot of major character flaws that didn't really seem to be counterbalanced or resolved in any way.

I also was able to predict one of the twists almost entirely, which did take away a bit of the surprise.

So...?
While I prefer other writers' psychological suspense, I always enjoy Bell's books. He spins a good mystery. I'm just always left wanting a little bit more.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

I received a copy of this book from the publisher at ALA in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.Title: A Girl Called VincentAuthor: Krystyna Poray GodduPublication Date: April 1, 2016Genre: Non-Fiction/Middle Grade/BiographyRecommended If You Like: biographies of strong smart women, poetry (especially Edna St. Vincent Millay's)

The Book:

Goddu tells the true story of the fascinating life of renowned female poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

What I Liked:
This book flew by! I finished it in just a few hours. It's absolutely fascinating and really well-written. I closed the book feeling I had learned so much, and had a lot of fun doing so.

Anything I Didn't Like?
There's really nothing not to like about this book. It is aimed towards middle schoolers, but I feel adults can and should read it too.

So...?
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great, fun way to learn about a fascinating women and be introduced to her poetry.